Roller screen



June 5, 1928.

w.H. LENISH ROLLER SCREEN 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 12, 1927 W. H.LENISH ROLLER SCREEN Fund 5, 1928,

Filed Sept. 12, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 4, .M M m 6 Z W 4w 9% 4 r a A? aPatented June 5, 1928.

' UNITED STATES WALTER H. LENISH, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.-

BOLLER SCREEN.

Application filed September 12,1927. Serial No. 218,882.

My invention relates to rollin screens particularly to that type in whica screen is rolled up on a roller within a casing at the upper end ofthe window frame and adapted to be drawn downwardly to the window sillto close the window opening.

One important object of the invention is to provide improved concealedlatching means, inaccessible from the outside of the closed screen, forlocking the screen automatically in closed position when the screen ismoved to such a. position.

Another important object is to adapt the latching mechanism to bereleased by a slight axial turn of the screen rail bar.

Another important object is to provide finger grips or lifts at the endsof therail bar which, under upward pressure preparatory to raising thescreen, will first twist or rotate the rail bar to cause unlatching ofthe screen.

Another important object is to provide simple means for adjusting thelatch structure.

The above and other features of my invention are incorporated in thestructure shown on the drawings, in which Fig. 1 is av front view of awindow frame showing the general arrangement of my improved screenstructure.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged ner of the window frame and the screen structure,

Fig. 3 is an enlargedsection on plane 3-3 Fig. 1,

Fig. 4 is a sect-ion on .plane 4-4 Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section on plane 55 Fig. 3. showing the latched position ofthe parts.

Fig 6 is a similar section showing the unlatched position, I

Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing a modified arrangement of latchplate and spring.

Fig. 8 is a transverse section showing the operation of the modifiedarrangement in the guide channels. and

Fig. 9 is a section on plane 9-9 Fig. 8.

On Fig. 1 the screen S is shown applied to a window frame F, the screenbeing mounted on a roll housed in the receptacle B mounted front view ofa corat the top of the window frame, as, for example, in the mannerdisclosed in iny copending application Serial No. 149,849, filedNovember 22, 1926. The outer end of the screen is secured to a rail barstructure R which at its ends engages in guide structures G and Gsecured against the sides of the window frame.

The rail bar structure shown comprises the two clamping strips 10 and 11of sheet metal and having the strengthening and stiffening ribs 12adjacent to their longitudinal edges. The strips receive between themthe lower end of the screen S and are secured together by bolts 13 toclamp the screen. A sealing strip 14 which may be offelt is interposedbetween the screen and the inner clamping strip 11 and engages againstthe window sill when the screen is pulled down.

Referring first to'the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 6,.at each end ofthe rail bar structure guide plates 15 and 16 are interposed between theclamping strips and the screen. At each end of the rail bar, on theinner side thereof, is applied a finger grip or lift 17, by means ofwhich the rail bar. and, consequently, the screen, may be readily raisedand lowered. The projecting ends 16' of the guide plate 16 are straight,while the projecting ends 15' of the plate 15 are deflected. as clearlyshown in Fig. 3, and these ends engage in the guide structures G and Gin a manner to be now described.

The guide structures G and G are shown as each comprising the guidestrips 18 and 19 spaced apart to form the guide channel 20. The guidestrips are of L-shape and are secured with their base sections againstthe comparatively heavy stock and rigid, while the plates 15 are oflighter elastic material so that they will act as springs. The ends 15are normally deflected away from the ad jacent ends 16' to be at anangle therewith, but when the ends are inserted in the guide channelsthey will be parallel. the ends 15' then frictionally engaginglwith andexerting llll sprin pressure agalnst t eguide strips 19 and t e ends 16engaging against the edges of the deflected end section 18 of the stri18. The screen side sections X extend a d1sta-nce into the guidechannels between the guide ends 15' and 16 of the guide plates. llt isto be understood that the screen at its 11 per end within the receptacleB is subjecte to the pull of a spring, but the frictional engagementofthe ends of the rail bar with the guide strips will counteract suchspring pull and will hold the screen in any position to which it hasbeen adjusted.

Coming now to the locking or latching structure, the deflected outersections 18 or. the guide strips 18 terminate a distance short of thelower end of the guide strips to leave recesses 24: below the shouldersor ends 25 into which the guide ends 16 are forced byv the power ofthe'spring endslti' when the screen guide rail is moved into closingposition against the window frame sill. The sections 18' of the strips18 can be cut out at their lower ends to leave the recesses Q4 or thelower sections 18'? oil the strips can be bent outwardly to be straight,as clearly shown on Fig. 2.

Pushing of the ends it into the recesses 24 by the force of the springends l5brings the ends 1.6. below the shoulders 25 against which theends 16' will then abut to lock the screen against upward movement. Ascompensation or adjustment is frequently necessary for uneven sillsurface, wear of the sealing felt it, or other reasons, ll preterablyprovide an adjustable latching abutment for the ends 16". Suchadjustable abutments are shown in the form of small rectangular platesor blocks 26 located within the guide channels 20 at the lower ends ofthe defiected sect-ions 18 to extend a distance below the shoulders 25.The blocks are each held in adjusted position by a screw 2'? ex.-tending through a vertical slot 2 8 in the re spective guide strips andthreading into the blocks. lllfi permits the blocks to be readilyvertically adjusted with their lower ends in proper position to detainor lock the ends 16 and thereby the rail bar. and screen against openingmovement alter the screen has been pulled down to closed position. Theabutment blorlrs preferably engage along their inner edges in the bendsoi the dctlected sections 18 and lhebloclts are thus held in verticalposition during adjustment thereof.

lt will be noted that when pressure is applied to the fittings 1.7 asthe is outerclosedQ-such pressure will tend to rotate or turnthe railbar on its longitudinal axis and such movement will swing the upper.edges of the ends 16' forwardly and assist the spring ends 15-inlocating such edges below the abutment blocks 26. Now. when it isdesiredto open the screen. lifting on the fittings 17 will rotate orturn the rail I force on the fittings 17 accomplishing unlatching orunlocking of the screen automatically before the screen is raised. inFig. 4: the normal position of the guide plates in the ing illustratedjust above the latch or abut ment plates. In Fig. 5 the rail bar isshown in locked position, and in Fig. ti the rail bar is shown turned orrotated to unlatching position preparatory to opening of the screen.When the screen is closed, the felt sealing strip 14 is in intimateengagement with the window trams sillan'd as the abutment blocks 26 areadjustable. proper latching engagement between such blocks and the ends16 can be maintained so that the felt strip will always ntakepropersealing engagement with the sill.

in Figs. 7, 8, and 9 a modified arrangement is shown in whichill-springs Qdare used in place of the spring plates 15 in thestructures shown in Figs. 1 to 6. These springs extend with their limbsvertical and each is secured with its front limb 30 against the'rearside of the end 16' of the corresponding guide plate 16. and the springsmay be secured as by means of rivets 31 shown. or by means of spotwelding. As shown the springs are secured with their bends 32 at thebottom. and the other limb 33 of each spring engages against the guidestrip 119 to exert the necessary spring action to create suficientfriction between the guide bar and guide strips to hold the screen inadjusted position. lhe limbs 33 oil each spring are dished or haveextensions for forming the end flange 34 and the side flanges 35. Theflange 34ertends diagonally to form a bevel tor reducing the frictionatthe spring end so that the spring will not bind. The side tlanges 35 andparticularly the inner flanges are at an angle corresponding with thatof the dcllected end 19 or the guide strip l9. engagement oil thelianges with such ends serving to center the screen transversely of thewindow frame. The ll-springs produce a resilient fricti i which willpermit the screen. readily raised and lowered and guide channels isshown. the guide plates be- 1 Mill lllfr llll llb

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which will hold it securely in adjusted position. When the guide barsreach the sill of the window frame the springs 29 will push the ends 16of the guide plates 16 into the recesses 24 and into locking positionbelow the detent plates 36. When pull is then applied to the fittings 17the U-springs will give and permit the plates 16 to be readily releasedfrom the lock plates to permit opening of the screen.

Referring particularlyto Fig. 2it will be noted that the lower sections18" of the guide strips 18 have theirinner edges a a distance inwardlyof the inner edges of sections 18, and when the screenis closed theguide bar clamping means 10 and 11 will engage along the edges w tosecure the guide bar against transverse displacement in the window frameand to give a neat finished appearance. When the screen is raised therewill be sulficient clearance between the ends of the clamping. beams 10and 11 and the edges of the sections 18 to prevent scraping of the beamends against the guide strips.

To secure the guide strips against separation at the lower ends due tothe pressure of the latch controlling spring 29, and also to formfinished ends or ferrules for the guide strips, I provide shoes 36 of Ushaped cross section for receiving the guide strips ends as shown inFigs. 4, 5, and 6. These shoes also eliminate the necessity of cuttingthe guide strips accurately to length.

Other modifications may be made in structure and arrangement withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

I claim as follows:

1. In roller screen structure, the combination of a screen, a rail barat the outer end of said screen, guide strips forming guide channels forsaid bar, guide members -at each end of said bar extending into theadjacent guide channel and having friction engagement with the guidestrips for holding the screen in adjusted position, each channel havinga locking recess at its lower end for receiving one of the associateduide members when the screen is moved to c osed position, and liftfittings on said bar having finger grip sections spaced in front of thebar whereby lift on said fittings will tend to rotate said bar on itslongitudinal axis, rota- 'tion of the bar causing release of said guidemembers from said locking recesses and release of the screen for openingmovement.

2. In a roller screen structure, the combination of a screen, a railbarfor the outer end of said screen, guide strips forming guide channelsfor each end of the bar, a guide member extending from each end of thebar into the adjacent channel. a spring member associated with eachguide member within thecoi'responding channel yieldingly holding saidguide member against the wall of the channel, an abutment at the lowerend of each channel and a recess therebelow into whichthe respectiveguide member is forced by the spring member into position below theabutment whereby said bar will then be locked when the screen is inclosed position, and lifting means for said bar adapted upon applicationof lifting force thereto to cause rotation of the bar on itslongitudinal axis and release of the guide members from said abutmentsto subsequently permit opening ofthe screen upon further lift of thelifting members.

3. In roller screen structure, the combination of a screen, a rail barat the outer end of the screen, guide strips forming guide channels, aguide member at each end of the bar extending into the respectivechannel, a spring associated with each guide member for yieldablyforcing it against one wall of the respective channel, a latch abutmentat the lower end of each channel and a recess therebelow,said springforcing said guide extension into said recess below said abutment whenthe screen is moved to closed position whereby said screen will belocked, pressure on said rail bar a ainst the force of said springreleasing sai guide bar from said latch abutment and permitting openingmovement of the screen.

4. In roller screen structure, the combination of a screen, a railbar atthe outer end of the screen, guide strips forming guide channels for theends of the bar, a pair of guide plates extending from each end of thebar into the respective channel, spring means forcing the guide platesof each pair apart into frictional engagement with the channel stripsfor holdin the screen in adjusted position. and a latching abutment atthe lower end of each channel past which one of said guide plates ismoved whereby said bar will be latched against opening movement when thescreen is moved to closed position. pressure against said bar away fromsaid abutments causing release of the guide plates and movement of thescreen.

5 In roller screen structure, the combination of ascreen, a rail bar atthe outer end of the screen, guide stri s forming a guide channeladjacent the en of the bar, a comparatively rigid guide extension ateach end of the bar engaging in the'respect-ive channel against one wallthereof, an elastic guide member associated with each guide extensionfor engaging with the opposite wall of the respective channel, a latchabutment at the lower end of each channel past and below which theelastic guide member .will. force the guide extension to thereby latchthe bar and screen against opening movement after closing thereof, andlift'fittings on said bar for causing unlatching permitting opening Imovement of said guide extensions prior to opening movement of thescreen.

Pieemeee 6. In roller screen structure, \hhe eombitiltiOflifll movememof seidl ban on its iongination of a screen, a rail hair, gufle stripstudinei axis prior to opening movement of forming guide channels for thebar ends, the screen. W latch mechanism for automatically locking InWitness whereof, I hereunto subscribe 5 the bar when the screen is movedinto closed my name this 7th day of September, 1927.

position, and means whereby said- Year is released from the latchmechanism upon ro- WALTER 'LENISH.

